colors

Felt Marker Color Exploration

May 1, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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So – many – beautiful – hues! That‘s what your little learners will create while engaging in this felt marker color exploration invitation. The activity is easy and economical to set up and the science experiment is as interesting to children as any other project out there.

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Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

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Supplies to Collect

Gather the following supplies. Most can be found in the kitchen, so you probably already have them!

plastic tablecloth
water-based felt markers
office paper
craft foam
paper towels
clear plastic or white styrofoam egg cartons
compartment trays
scissors
jug of water

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Create beautiful hues with this felt marker color exploration invitation. The activity is easy and economical to set up!

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The Felt Marker Color Exploration Set Up

First, cover a table with a plastic tablecloth.

Next cut paper, paper towels, and craft foam into 2-inch x 3-inch strips.

For each participant, fill sections of an egg carton with water. Or add water to empty tempera block trays.

Then set up stations with strips of paper and foam, and a water-filled egg carton or compartment tray.

Add a set of water-based felt markers to each spot.

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Exploring Color With Felt Pens And Markers

An easy and economical felt marker color exploration activity your children will love to do!

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Invite participants to decorate foam and paper strips with felt markers, and then dip the strips into egg carton sections. The water will turn a variety of colors, resulting in exquisite transient art. Such a fun science experiment with an artistic flair!

The colored water in the clear egg cartons below is the work of several students. I was so impressed with the many colors they created. The plastic egg cartons are set on a light table so the hues display clearly. Aren’t they gorgeous?

So many beautiful hues can be created with this felt marker color exploration activity.

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Related:

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Blue Candy Cane Science Experiment

January 23, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky 1 Comment

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This blue candy cane science experiment is an offshoot of an earlier candy cane science post. I purposely saved blue striped candy canes to use in a few winter-themed variations of the easy-to-perform experiment. And yes…I am permanently hooked on candy cane science!

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Supplies To Collect

This blue candy cane snowflake experiment will wow little learners. It is easy to set up and shows immediate results.

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First up is a blue candy cane snowflake version of the experiment. To perform it gather the following three supplies:

six blue and white striped candy canes
large clear, white, or cream-colored plate with a rim
measuring cup (or cup) of warm water

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The Candy Cane Snowflake Experiment

Set the candy canes on a large plate in a six-sided snowflake design.

Let the science experiment begin with this blue candy cane snowflake!

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Slowly pour in warm water to partially cover the candy canes.

Invite participants to watch what happens.

An easy-to-do candy cane snowflake science experiment. All you need is water, candy canes, and a plate.

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While little learners watch the colors in the water spread during the experiment, slip in a few snowflake facts from the list below.

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Ten Fast Facts About Snowflakes

Snowflakes are made of many snow crystals that are stuck together.
The six-sided flakes come in symmetrical, hexagonal shapes.
About 200 ice crystals make up one snowflake.
There are six basic types of snowflakes.
Combinations of these types make 35 recognizable snowflake designs.
A snowflake’s shape is determined by the temperature and amount of moisture in the air when it was formed.
Snowflakes range in size, from teeny tiny to penny-sized.
Because they reflect light, snowflakes appear white. But they are actually translucent.
Every second, billions of snowflakes float down to earth.
Snowflakes fall at 3- 4 miles per hour or about 5 – 6.5 km per hour.

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Try this easy-to-do candy cane snowflake experiment today. It uses simple supplies and has immediate results. Snowflake facts are included.

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Early learners may wish to have a little taste of the resulting blue liquid. Unlike the strong mint taste of the Christmas candies, the blue water has a pleasant berry flavor.

Tip: If you have other candy cane colors available rather than blue striped ones, use them in the experiment instead. Snowflakes look beautiful in all colors!

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Blue Candy Cane Heart Experiment

For a simpler but equally striking version, form two candy canes into a heart shape on the plate. When water is slowly added, little learners will notice a different color pattern developing.

This blue candy cane heart science experiment fits into winter and transitions nicely into Valentine's Day.

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A pretty blue candy cane science experiment that will wow little learners.

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The Science Behind The Color Movement

The candy canes are made of sugar. The water breaks the sugar molecules apart. Then the food colors move through the water away from areas of higher sugar concentration (near the candy) to areas with less sugar. When the sugar concentration is the same in all areas, the colors stop moving.

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Blue Candy Cane Sensory Tube

If you have broken candy canes saved that weren’t suitable to display or hand out over the holidays, use them in a sensory tube.

Candy cane winter sensory tube with ice cubes and snowflakes.

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To make the winter-themed tube above, freeze ice cubes and add them to a clear tube with a wide mouth.

Next, sprinkle in blue and white foam and gem snowflakes.

Gently drop in blue-striped candy cane pieces.

Then fill the sensory tube with cool water and tightly screw on the lid.

Invite little learners to play with the tube.

An icy blue candy cane winter sensory tube doubling as a float and sink experiment.

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Because the water in the tube is cool, it changes color at a slower pace than in the snowflake and heart versions of the experiment.

Float and sink experimentation happens naturally with this candy cane tube. The snowflake gems and candy cane pieces sink to the bottom and hang out there, while the foam shapes congregate at the top.

This eye-appealing blue candy cane sensory tube doubles as a float and sink experiment.

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Candy Cane Science Experiment

January 1, 2022 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This Christmas I went on a candy cane hunt, primarily to add a few of these festive treats to my preschoolers’ party bags. Although easy to find in the past, I visited three different stores before I spotted some.

Candy canes had been brought up in class discussions, so I thought the children would be excited to discover them in their party bags. As I tried to give one child extra candy canes for his siblings, I noticed that he was furiously trying to give his original ones away. It turned out that he immensely dislikes them! So needless to say, there were a few candy canes leftover at school after the holiday celebrations.

So then came Plan B…the decision to use some for this easy-peasy candy cane science experiment.

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Supplies To Collect

Gather just three supplies for an easy-to-perform candy cane or candy experiment with a WOW factor.

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The supplies for this science experiment couldn’t be any simpler. Gather the following three things:

white or cream-colored dinner plate with a rim
cup of warm water
two large candy canes

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Conducting The Candy Cane Science Experiment

Try this candy cane Science experiment today! It is easy to do and has immediate results.

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Place two candy canes in the center of the plate in a heart shape.

Slowly pour in warm water to a level just beneath the plate rim.

The food coloring will immediately diffuse from the candy canes, and the color patterns will change right before your eyes!

This experiment can be tried with other colors of these treats. The red, pink, and white color scheme below would work perfectly for Valentine’s Day.

This easy to perform heart-themed candy cane science experiment is perfect for Valentine's Day. Give it a try!

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Variation Of The Candy Cane Experiment

There was a second candy escapade this holiday season, as a type of striped, spherical, Christmas candies I purchased turned out to be much too hard. I tasted one, and it just wouldn’t dissolve in my mouth. I imagined students choking on the candy on the drive home from preschool, and didn’t want to risk that. As you might have guessed, the super hard candies didn’t make the treat bag cut.

Conveniently, these holiday candies work in the same science experiment. In the picture below, the candies are arranged next to the rim of a plate. When warm water is added, green and red food colors slowly move through the liquid away from the candies. The process is so slow, the colors blend to make a rich brown hue soon after they spread. Since little learners love mixing colors to make brown, they would be excited to see this!

An oh-so-easy Christmas candy science experiment. Can't you smell the candy already?

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The candies can be placed a little farther apart around the plate rim, so the colors don’t mix as quickly when water is added. Or they can be spread apart as in the picture below. Then moving red and green colors are visible a little while after warm water is added.

Try this Christmas candy Science experiment today! It is easy to do and has immediate results.

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Tip: If the colors in the candies dissolve at a snail’s pace, as in one of my experiments, you can choose to use hot water. This will speed up the scientific process. Make sure little learners observe what happens only with their eyes, keeping their hands and bodies away from the plate.

After the science experiment is finished and the liquid is cool, you may wish to let your little charges taste a teaspoon of colored water. It will have a strong mint taste.

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A simple Christmas candy science experiment with quick results. Can't you smell the candy already?

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Explanation Of This Candy Cane/Candy Experiment

The candy canes and candies are made of sugar. The water breaks the sugar molecules apart. Then the food colors move through the water from areas of higher sugar concentration (near the candy) to areas with less sugar (the center of the plate.) When the sugar concentration is the same in all areas, the colors stop moving.

Water temperature is a variant in this experiment. Sugar dissolves quicker in warm water, and food coloring moves at a faster pace.

This science experiment is so easy to set up and has immediate results, perfect for little learners. And participants get to use their senses of sight, smell, taste, and touch. Try it today with candies or candy canes!

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This easy-peasy candy cane heart science experiment shows immediate results and brings the WOW factor, perfect for little learners!

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Coffee Filter Sunflower Craft

November 6, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky 3 Comments

Create stunning coffee filter sunflowers in two different ways. An easy to do, all-ages craft and science project.

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Although it is early November in Alberta, this coffee filter sunflower craft shows that we are not done with color! The fall season in our area of the world is filled with bright, flamboyant hues. But it goes by quickly, and we often get early snows we are not quite ready for.

Aside from being colorful, this craft is easy for little learners to do. And toddlers can join in too!

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Supplies To Collect

As with many of my craft ideas, the supplies for this project are easy to find. Gather together the following:

coffee filters
non-permanent felt pens in yellow, red, orange, and brown
orange craft foam
yellow, red, and orange fade-resistant cardstock or construction paper
water spray bottle
12-inch x 12-inch white or complementary hued cardstock
glue stick
plastic tub

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Creating The Coffee Filter Sunflower Craft

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Invite little learners to color coffee filters with non-permanent felt pens. If interested, they can color more than one.

Afterward, each child can take a turn spraying their works of art with a few squirts of water. Placing the designs in a plastic tub helps contain the liquid. Everyone will love this color blending phase!

Let the moistened coffee filter canvases dry on a flat surface.

Tip: Children enjoy the squirting phase so much that they are tempted to blast all the color out of their masterpieces. That’s why encouraging your little charges to decorate at least two coffee filters works well. Then they could wet one design with about five squirts of water, and save it to craft a sunflower with. And they could squirt the rest of their designs with as much liquid as they like.

Cut large circles from the orange foam. Ask little learners to use a glue stick or white glue to adhere a circle to the middle of one of their artsy coffee filters.

Next, have everyone glue a stem and two leaves precut from construction paper to a 12-inch x 12-inch piece of cardstock. Children can choose one color or a variety of colors for these sunflower parts. The printable below may be a helpful template.

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Sunflower Pattern DownloadDownload

This printable is for individual or one classroom use only.

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To finish the project off, have them glue on the sunflower head.

This coffee filter sunflower craft looks stunning displayed.

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Bright sunflower art with felt pens and coffee filters.

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Felt pen-decorated coffee filter sunflowers that are easy to make.

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Variation Of This Coffee Filter Sunflower Craft

Steps to creating a sunflower with a scrunched tissue center.

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Instead of a foam center, have children glue brown tissue squares to a large sunflower middle cut from similar colored construction paper. They can scrunch the squares, dip them into white glue, and stick them to the circle. When dry, the crafts can be completed as above.

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More Sunflower Activities:

Activities With Sunflowers

Corn Syrup Paint Sunflowers

Sunflower Seed Sensory Bins

Butterfly Sunflower Paper Craft

[Read more…]

Apple Print Activities

October 16, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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Apples are so plentiful in fall and come in many sizes and colors. Besides enjoying the crunchy, juicy fruits in pies, squares, and drinks, set aside some for apple print activities.

To start off, show early learners a selection of apples in contrasting colors. A green Granny Smith, a yellow golden delicious, and a red royal gala apple make good fruits to set out and discuss. They are also easy to find in stores.

Little learners would be excited to taste the apples. Cut some into chunks and invite children to taste apples in all three colors.

Follow me on Pinterest for more early learning ideas.

Pick an inexpensive apple to use for the craft. I picked a smaller-sized apple on sale at a local produce store. Cut some apples in half from top to bottom, and slice others horizontally. Have early learners notice the seeds, and count them. Highlight the star shape in the horizontally cut apples.

Then invite children to use the apples for printmaking.

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Supplies To Collect

green, red, and yellow tempera paints
12-inch x 18-inch sturdy art paper
small plates or trays
paintbrushes
apple halves

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Making Apple Prints

Pour a little red, green, and yellow paint in small flat dessert dishes or disposable plates. Add a little yellow to the green paint to lighten and brighten the color.

Allow little ones to dip apples into the paints, and make prints on the paper.

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Another way to do this activity is to have early learners paint the apple halves instead, and then press them on the paper. It is easier to control the amount of paint on the apples this way.

Apple printmaking with green, red, and yellow tempera paints.

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Tip: After each painting experience, apple pieces can be rinsed and used again by another child.

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More Apple Print Activities

Apples often come in two different colors, like red and green, or yellow and red. To extend the painting experience, invite children to paint each apple half in a different color, and make prints with them.

Add some fun by making apple prints in two different colors.

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Thin the paints. Invite little learners to make prints on sections of paper towel roll. The absorbency and texture of the towels give the prints a unique look.

Make two-colored apple prints on absorbant paper towel.

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Instead of using apple halves, set out apple slices for the children to use. They work well too!

Printmaking using apple slices on a section of absorbant paper towel.

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After the paintings are dry, cut out a few prints to use in fingerplays and counting activities.

Cut apple paint prints used in fingerplays and counting activities.

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And the apple prints would make great additions to an apple tree or a wreath craft.

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Color Explosion Science Experiment

January 1, 2021 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

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This dramatic color explosion science experiment is one of the simplest ones you will find. It uses ingredients you probably have in your home, is easy to set up, and shows stunning, instant results.

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Supplies To Collect

serving tray
milk
food coloring (1 – 4 colors)
liquid dish soap

Kitchen supplies to carry out the color explosion milk experiment.

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Conducting The Experiment

Pour a thin layer of milk into a serving tray placed on a table. I use an inexpensive 12-inch x 12-inch tree-shaped vegetable tray to add interest to the experiment. About three cups of milk will provide a nice layer in a serving tray this size.

Squeeze drops of food coloring in different parts of the tray. Use one, two, three, or even four colors. Primary colors work well.

Squirt a little dish soap in a few color pools.

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Pools of food coloring in the color explosion milk experiment.

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The food coloring immediately explodes to the tray edges, blending and making new colors.

Try adding a bit more food coloring, and one more squirt of dish soap. I add a little more blue, red, and yellow to the bottom right section because most of the color has moved to other areas of the tray. I squirt a tad more soap on top. There isn’t a noticeable change right away. In fact, after the initial color burst, nothing much seems to happen.

A second dose of food coloring and dish detergent are added in this color explosion milk experiment.

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But wait! The experiment doesn’t end here. Leave the tray on the table undisturbed, and check back a few times over the next half-hour. The food coloring slowly moves through the milk and fills the tray.

Each time you look, new color designs are visible on the surface of the milk.

A monster appears in this color explosion milk experiment.

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Gradually, the whole tray is color-infused.

Red, blue, yellow, and green colors fill the tray in this color explosion milk experiment.

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This color explosion science experiment is perfect for introducing to a group of early learners. At preschool, I like to set it out just before snack time and have students take a second look at what has happened after they are done eating. Then everyone has another look at the tray just before going home.

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Related: Pumpkin Color Changing Milk Experiment

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Color Explosion Experiment Take Two

In the above demonstration of the science project, I use 2% milk. Below, I show the results of the same experiment done with 1% milk. This time I add drops of color and a squirt of dish soap only once. The food coloring added is generous.

Food coloring pools in the color explosion milk experiment.

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In checking back in ten minutes after the initial explosion, the color has moved away from the edge of the tray towards the center.

Bright colors start to spread from the edges of the tray in this color explosion milk experiment.

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In twenty minutes the tray looks like this:

Color spreads on the surface of a milk filled tray after dish detergent and fat molecules bond. The food coloring shows the movement of the molecules.

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The colors spread further.

Bright colors take over in this color explosion milk experiment.

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Finally, they settle in pastel shades.

Pastel colors settle in this color explosion milk experiment.

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Tip: Save milk that has expired for this experiment. I successfully use milk five weeks past the expiration day for this second demo.

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The Science Behind The Color Explosion Experiment

Although milk is made of mostly water, it also contains fat and protein. These are both sensitive to changes in the milk. When dish soap is added to the tray, it breaks up the surface tension of the milk and is attracted to the fat molecules. The fat molecules try to scurry away but end up bonded with the soap molecules. The movement of the food coloring makes this process visible. As more and more soap and fat molecules bond, the color movement slows down and eventually stops.

Since fat content in milk is super important in this experiment, homo milk works the best. But as seen above, 2% and 1% milk (which I had handy) also show stunning results.

Color-changing experiment using milk, food coloring, and dish detergent.

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Pumpkin Color Activities

November 23, 2020 by Annette Kaminsky Leave a Comment

Pumpkin facts and color activities. Anatomy, color matching, and art activities.

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Although orange pumpkins are traditional, and most grocery stores focus on selling them, these dramatic fruits come in many other hues. Diversely colored pumpkins can be scouted out at farmer’s markets and garden centers in autumn. They are intriguing in pumpkin color activities for little learners.

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Pumpkin Display

First, set out pumpkins on a shelf for little ones to view. The contrasting colors make a striking display. Discuss pumpkin color, size, shape, and texture.

Pumpkins in mint, cream, black, yellow, and green colors.

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Color Matching

Move the pumpkins to a table and invite early learners to add color words.

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Pumpkin Anatomy

Display a cross-section of each variety collected, and talk about pumpkin anatomy.

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Notice that some pumpkins have larger cavities than others, and certain pumpkins contain more seeds. Study flesh colors together, and invite little learners to feel the pumpkin insides.

Black pumpkin cross-section showing pulp and seeds.

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Spider Web Crayon Rubbings

Have children do a spider web crayon rubbing on a uniquely colored paper pumpkin. A few spiders hanging around add excitement to the activity.

Crayon rubbings of spider webs on colored pumpkins. An all-ages art activity.

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Pumpkin Painting

Offer tempera paint for little ones to slather on a small pumpkin. Have everyone generously sprinkle on gold glitter for a finishing touch. The decorated pumpkins make showy take-home art, perfect for displaying on front steps or a porch.

Tempera painted pumpkins sprinkled with gold glitter.

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10 Fast Pumpkin Facts

Pumpkins are native to Mexico but have been embraced all over the world.
Pumpkin harvest season peaks in October.
Pumpkins come in various shades of orange, but can also be white, black, deep green, light green, yellow, blue, soft pink, cream, striped, or speckled.
Uniquely colored pumpkins have different purposes. White pumpkins are perfect for art projects.
Cinderella, Blue Doll, Baby Bear, Crystal Star, and Midnight Black are some of many creative pumpkin names.
Some pumpkins are smooth. Others feel rough and may have warts.
The world’s heaviest pumpkin weighed 2323 pounds.
Water makes up 90% of pumpkins.
Pumpkins are treated as a vegetable in many recipes but are actually a fruit.
Pumpkins are a source of vitamin A, C, and E, and zinc, folate, potassium, and fiber. They contain antioxidants.

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Pumpkin Vocabulary List

Download a list of pumpkin vocabulary words to use with your early learners.

Pumpkin Vocabulary ListDownload

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To get more ideas for pumpkin color activities, view a slideshow from Better Homes And Gardens entitled: Types Of Pumpkins.

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